Nigai is the Japanese i-adjective for ‘bitter’, explained

What does “nigai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “nigai” to mean ‘bitter’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this i-adjective as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “nigai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “nigai”
  • Example #1: how to say “bitter” in Japanese
• Nigakunai: the nai form of “nigai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not bitter” in Japanese
• Nigakatta: the ta form of “nigai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was bitter” in Japanese
• Nigakute: the te form of “nigai”
  • Example #4: how to say “bitter and” in Japanese
• Nigakereba: the ba form of “nigai”
  • Example #5: how to use “if bitter” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “nigai”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “nigai”.

• nigai – 苦い (にがい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Japanese native speakers use this i-adjective often to describe something bitter in taste. In addition, they sometimes use this to describe a bitter feeling about something. So, this i-adjective can work in more or less the same way as the English adjective, “bitter”, does.

The definition and meaning of “nigai” are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• omoide – 思い出 (おもいで) : a noun meaning ‘memory’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “omoide” to make the subject in the sentence.
• aru – ある : a verb meaning ‘to exist’, ‘to have’, or just ‘to be’ in Japanese. This is often used to say that something exists in Japanese. In the example, indeed, this is used to say that the bitter memory exists.

This is a typical usage of “nigai”. In this example, it works as the modifier in front of “omoide”. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a complement in a sentence. For example, we can say “omoide ga nigai” to mean ‘a memory is bitter’ in Japanese. So, it can work in more or less the same way as the English adjective, “bitter”, does. Anyway, when we want to say “bitter” in Japanese, “nigai” is always a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “nigai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “nigakunai”.

Nigakunai: the nai form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nigakunai”.

• nigakunai – 苦くない (にがくない) : the nai form of “nigai”, which means ‘not bitter’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• nigaku – 苦く (にがく) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigakunai” is literally the nai form of “nigai” and means ‘not bitter’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun which refers to something close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “ocha” to say “this tea” in Japanese.
• ocha – お茶 (おちゃ) : a noun meaning ‘tea’ in Japanese. Normally, this refers to green tea.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this is used after “kono ocha” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “nigakunai”. When we want to say “not bitter” in Japanese, this nai form is a very good option.

Nigakatta: the ta form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “nigakatta”.

• nigakatta – 苦かった (にがかった) : the ta form of “nigai”, which means ‘was bitter’, ‘were bitter’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• nigakat – 苦かっ (にがかっ) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigakatta” is literally the ta form of “nigai” and means ‘was bitter’, ‘were bitter’, or such in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• dashi – 出し (だし) : one conjugation of the verb, “dasu”, which means ‘to serve’ or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.

This is a typical usage of “nigakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “nigai”, this ta form is the best option.

Nigakute: the te form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nigakute”.

• nigakute – 苦くて (にがくて) : the te form of “nigai”, which means ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakute” consists of the following two parts:

• nigaku – 苦く (にがく) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigakute” is literally the te form of “nigai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “nigakute” is very useful when we want to use “nigai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “bitter and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example.

• koi – 濃い (こい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘thick’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “nigakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “koi”. When we want to use “nigai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Nigakereba: the ba form of “nigai”

Below are the definition and meaning of “nigakereba”.

• nigakereba – 苦ければ (にがければ) : the ba form of “nigai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “nigakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• nigakere – 苦けれ (にがけれ) : one conjugation of “nigai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “nigakereba” is literally the ba form of “nigai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “nigakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘bitter’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to use “if bitter” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• oshie – 教え (おしえ) : one conjugation of the verb, “oshieru“, which means ‘to tell’, ‘to inform’, ‘to teach’, or ‘to let someone know’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• te – て : the same as used in “nigakute”. In this example, this is used after “oshie” to make its te form, “oshie te”. Verbs need to be changed to their te forms to be connected with “kudasai”.
• kudasai – 下さい (ください) : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “oshie te” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “nigakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ocha ga nigakereba”, which means ‘if the tea is bitter’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘bitter’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “nigai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• nigai – 苦い (にがい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• nigakunai – 苦くない (にがくない) : the nai form of “nigai”, which means ‘not bitter’ in Japanese.
• nigakatta – 苦かった (にがかった) : the ta form of “nigai”, which means ‘was bitter’, ‘were bitter’, or such in Japanese. This is the past tense form of “nigai”.
• nigakute – 苦くて (にがくて) : the te form of “nigai”, which means ‘bitter’ in Japanese. When we want to use “nigai” in front of another adjective, this te form is useful to make a smooth connection.
• nigakereba – 苦ければ (にがければ) : the ba form of “nigai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘bitter’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.